Smart refrigerators, smart thermostats, smart light bulbs - it seems that you can connect to just about anything with an app these days. But how can you bridge the gap between the smart appliances you’ve just bought and the traditional appliances you currently have? The answer lies with smart plugs or outlets. Much like smart switches, smart plugs provide a way to automate non-smart appliances and control them remotely using a corresponding app on your mobile device.

How do smart plugs work?

You can seamlessly connect your office or home so all your smart and non-smart devices can work harmoniously. Many smart plugs and smart power strips don’t need a hub to operate, using just Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi to connect, while others require a hub with technologies like Zigbee or Z-Wave to communicate. Prefer to let Google™ Assistant or Amazon Alexa do the work for you? No problem. Many models integrate with your digital assistant of choice.

The companion app that works with your hub-enabled or Wi-Fi smart plug lets you control connected devices from virtually anywhere. Set schedules and timers that operate around your patterns, use “away mode” while you’re on vacation to stop energy-sapping appliances from driving up your bill and create custom scenes that help ease you into the morning before work or the evening when the day is done.